Maren Oelbermann, Ph.D., professor
EDUCATION & post doctoral activities
Ph.D.: Land Resource Science (Soil Science), University of Guelph
M.Sc.: Environmental Biology, University of Guelph
B.Sc.: Biology, University of Guelph & University of British Columbia
Post Doc: Department of Crop and Soil Science, Cornell University (Funding: NASA, NSERC)
Post Doc: Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo (Funding: CFCAS, NSERC)
M.Sc.: Environmental Biology, University of Guelph
B.Sc.: Biology, University of Guelph & University of British Columbia
Post Doc: Department of Crop and Soil Science, Cornell University (Funding: NASA, NSERC)
Post Doc: Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo (Funding: CFCAS, NSERC)
Dr. Maren Oelbermann is a Professor in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS) at the University of Waterloo. Prior to her academic career, she led an environmental consulting firm in Vancouver.
With a strong focus on sustainable land use and climate change mitigation, Dr. Oelbermann has published over 65 peer-reviewed articles and edited the book Sustainable Agroecosystems in Climate Change Mitigation (Wageningen Academic Publishers). She has presented her research at more than 145 international conferences, delivered invited talks, organized symposia, and served on several scientific committees. She has also contributed as a managing guest editor and guest associate editor for special issues in leading journals.
Dr. Oelbermann is deeply committed to mentorship, supervising graduate and undergraduate students and hosting visiting scholars and interns from around the world.
With a strong focus on sustainable land use and climate change mitigation, Dr. Oelbermann has published over 65 peer-reviewed articles and edited the book Sustainable Agroecosystems in Climate Change Mitigation (Wageningen Academic Publishers). She has presented her research at more than 145 international conferences, delivered invited talks, organized symposia, and served on several scientific committees. She has also contributed as a managing guest editor and guest associate editor for special issues in leading journals.
Dr. Oelbermann is deeply committed to mentorship, supervising graduate and undergraduate students and hosting visiting scholars and interns from around the world.
editorial activities
Managing Guest Editor:
Oelbermann, M., Whalen, J., Chang, S. 2024. Using agroforestry systems for transitioning to healthy soils. Geoderma Regional.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/geoderma-regional/about/call-for-papers
Guest Editor:
Ziadi, N., Oelbermann, M., Price, G.W., Whalen, J. 2022. Biochar as an amendment in temperate soils. Canadian Journal of Soil Science. https://cdnsciencepub.com/toc/cjss/current
Cardinael, R., Cadisch, G., Gosme, M., Oelbermann, M., van Noordwijk, M. 2021. Climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture: Can agroforestry be part of the solution? Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/agriculture-ecosystems-and-environment/special-issue/1029D2HRHLM
Oelbermann, M. 2010. The role of complex agroecosystems in climate change mitigation. Agricultural Journal.
Associate Editor & Editorial Boards:
Soil Use and Management (current)
Journal of Environmental Quality (current)
Agroforestry Systems (current)
Environmental Management (previous)
Oelbermann, M., Whalen, J., Chang, S. 2024. Using agroforestry systems for transitioning to healthy soils. Geoderma Regional.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/geoderma-regional/about/call-for-papers
Guest Editor:
Ziadi, N., Oelbermann, M., Price, G.W., Whalen, J. 2022. Biochar as an amendment in temperate soils. Canadian Journal of Soil Science. https://cdnsciencepub.com/toc/cjss/current
Cardinael, R., Cadisch, G., Gosme, M., Oelbermann, M., van Noordwijk, M. 2021. Climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture: Can agroforestry be part of the solution? Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/agriculture-ecosystems-and-environment/special-issue/1029D2HRHLM
Oelbermann, M. 2010. The role of complex agroecosystems in climate change mitigation. Agricultural Journal.
Associate Editor & Editorial Boards:
Soil Use and Management (current)
Journal of Environmental Quality (current)
Agroforestry Systems (current)
Environmental Management (previous)
conference scientific committees
2021-2022: Scientific Committee "5th World Congress on Agroforestry" Quebec City, Canada.
2021: Session Organizer & Convener "Biochar its impacts on soils and crops in agriculture" with N. Ziadi, J. Whalen and G. Price. Annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Soil Science, Prince Edward Island, Canada (virtual).
2021: Committee member for successfully bidding to host the 24th World Congress of Soil Science in Toronto in 2030.
2019: Scientific Committee "Bio-Char II: Production, Characterization & Applications", Cetraro, Italy
2018-19: Scientific Committee "4th World Congress on Agroforestry" and session co-convener with R. Cardinael, G. Cadisch & R. Mosquera-Losada on "Mitigating Climate Change with Agroforestry", Montpellier, France.
2018-present: Preparation of bid to hold 23rd World Congress of Soil Science in Toronto, Canada
2018: Session Organizer & Convener "Biochar as an amendment in temperate soils", Niagara Falls, Canada
2017: Scientific Committee "Bio-Char I: Production, Characterization & Applications", Alba, Italy h
2012: Session Organizer & Convener "Sustainable agroecosystems in climate change mitigation", Eurosoil, Bari, Italy
2021: Session Organizer & Convener "Biochar its impacts on soils and crops in agriculture" with N. Ziadi, J. Whalen and G. Price. Annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Soil Science, Prince Edward Island, Canada (virtual).
2021: Committee member for successfully bidding to host the 24th World Congress of Soil Science in Toronto in 2030.
2019: Scientific Committee "Bio-Char II: Production, Characterization & Applications", Cetraro, Italy
2018-19: Scientific Committee "4th World Congress on Agroforestry" and session co-convener with R. Cardinael, G. Cadisch & R. Mosquera-Losada on "Mitigating Climate Change with Agroforestry", Montpellier, France.
2018-present: Preparation of bid to hold 23rd World Congress of Soil Science in Toronto, Canada
2018: Session Organizer & Convener "Biochar as an amendment in temperate soils", Niagara Falls, Canada
2017: Scientific Committee "Bio-Char I: Production, Characterization & Applications", Alba, Italy h
2012: Session Organizer & Convener "Sustainable agroecosystems in climate change mitigation", Eurosoil, Bari, Italy
undergraduate & graduate courses
ERS 234: Forest Ecosystems & Management (winter semester)
ERS 270: Sustainable Agriculture (fall semester)
ERS 383/BIOL 383: Tropical Ecosystems (winter semester)
ERS 484/GEOG 404/ERS 684: Soil Ecosystem Dynamics (fall semester)
ERS 675: Modeling Soil Organic Matter Dynamics (graduate course)
Forthcoming for 2027: ERS 4xx Sustainable Land-Use Systems in Tropical Environments (Field Course in Costa Rica)
ERS 270: Sustainable Agriculture (fall semester)
ERS 383/BIOL 383: Tropical Ecosystems (winter semester)
ERS 484/GEOG 404/ERS 684: Soil Ecosystem Dynamics (fall semester)
ERS 675: Modeling Soil Organic Matter Dynamics (graduate course)
Forthcoming for 2027: ERS 4xx Sustainable Land-Use Systems in Tropical Environments (Field Course in Costa Rica)
Website last updated June 2025